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enMuller: Anything can happenThomas Muller believes Bayern Munich can upset the odds and overcome Barcelona to reach the UEFA Champions League final.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/muller-anything-can-happen
Bayern Munich face a monumental task in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg with Barcelona, but Thomas Muller says his side have nothing to lose.
Last week at Camp Nou, Bayern matched their opponents for 75 minutes until a Lionel Messi-inspired Barca struck three times in the closing stages to earn a commanding 3-0 lead.
It seems an impossible task for Bayern to overturn such a deficit, but Muller has not given up hope of the club reaching a fourth final in six seasons.
"I am very emotional on the pitch but now my feelings are very much in check," he said. "I am not overexcited nor pessimistic, but we still have a chance.
"We are FC Bayern. It's like before the Porto game [when Bayern came back from losing the quarter-final first leg 3-1 to prevail 7-4 on aggregate].
"We will try our best, and in football anything can happen. Naturally, I believe in us.
"Since last Wednesday we have been saying we still have a chance, but we need to play even better. We did not play too badly last week. We still have hope.
"Will, passion, the fans' support - that is what we will need. I wouldn't say that we need a miracle. If we do get through, the press can write that it was a miracle, but that's not the way I would see it.
"We have nothing to lose. The players want it, the coach wants it - it is not over yet. Until the ref blows the final whistle, we have hope."news_articleMon, 11 May 2015 14:06:25 +0000Anonymous387336 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comBayern celebrate three-peatBayern Munich's players celebrated their third consecutive Bundesliga championship with a wave of tweets on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/bayern-celebrate-three-peat
Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge labelled Bayern Munich's third straight Bundesliga title a "magnificent achievement" as the players celebrated the 2014-15 championship on social media.
Bayern were confirmed as champions on Sunday after second-placed Wolfsburg lost 1-0 to Borussia Monchengladbach, leaving the Bavarians 15 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with four games remaining.
Rummenigge was impressed by how Pep Guardiola's side dominated the German league after a busy close-season involving the World Cup in Brazil.
"Retaining the title is a magnificent achievement. All credit to the coach and the team," the former striker told Bayern's website.
"They've been fantastic throughout, in a season following a World Cup where we had a host of players in action."
On Saturday, Bayern defeated Hertha Berlin 1-0 but had to wait for Wolfsburg's match to see if it would be enough to secure the league title.
Guardiola's men released a wave of joy on Twitter after hearing of Gladbach's victory.
"Amazing, we are the Champions of the @Bundesliga_EN!!! 3peat is a great feat!" full-back Rafinha wrote.
Rafinha's fellow Brazilian Dante added: "We are the Champions my friends!!!! Three in a row was a dream that became reality."
Midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who joined Bayern after they won the 2012-13 title, was thrilled to have tasted more success after an injury-ravaged season.
It is Thiago's sixth league title of his career, after winning La Liga with Barcelona four times.
"Deutscher Meister #2!!! Congrats to all the FC Bayern family. #MiaSanMeister !!!," the Spain international said.news_articleMon, 27 Apr 2015 01:08:57 +0000Anonymous380981 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comRafinha flattered by Schalke interestBayern Munich defender Rafinha admits that he was flattered by Schalke's interest but insists that he is happy at the Bundesliga champions.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/rafinha-flattered-schalke-interest
The Brazilian full-back made only 13 league appearances last season - six of them starts - and his former club were reported to be interested in taking him back.
However, he has started all three of Bayerns league games this season under Pep Guardiola and revealed that he is content in Munich.
He spent five seasons at Schalke from 2005 but revealed that the Bayern hierarchy had convinced him that he had a future at the Allianz Arena.
I must say that I was pleased (with the) interest, he told Bild. I lived for five and a half years in Gelsenkirchen, I had a good time and (they) told me that at Schalke, (the) door is always open.
But (Uli) Hoeness told me that he wants me to stay, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also.
That is a great confirmation for me.
Im at the best club in the world, (and) feel very comfortable in Munich.
The 28-year-old also admitted that he had not given up hope of forcing his way into the Brazil squad for next years FIFA World Cup.
He has not been used by coach Mario Menezes but remains hopeful of getting a chance.
Who knows, if Im doing well it may be that I still can (make it), he added.
The hope is always there.
news_articleSat, 07 Sep 2013 13:03:19 +0000Anonymous54441 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com